Former Minister Udaya Gammanpila has been acquitted and released by the Colombo High Court in a case involving allegations of misappropriating company shares belonging to an Australian national and committing criminal breach of trust amounting to Rs. 21 million.
The verdict was delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Nadee Aparna Suwandurugoda following a lengthy trial. The court held that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against Gammanpila beyond a reasonable doubt and accordingly acquitted him of all charges.
The case was filed during the previous Yahapalana Government and involved allegations that Gammanpila had used a forged Power of Attorney to unlawfully sell shares owned by Australian national Brian Shaddick.
Gammanpila had been accused of committing a financial fraud involving the shares, with the alleged transaction valued at approximately Rs. 21 million.
With the court finding that the prosecution had not established the charges to the required legal standard, Gammanpila was acquitted and released.
